Ch 1: biological transitions Flashcards
whati s this reading about?
the biological underpinnings of puberty
why is it relevant?
the changes that are occuring within the teen body influence their outward behaviours and a better understanding of this proccess can help us understand the external projections that occur during this time
WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE TOPIC
puberty is fucking uncomfortable and scary
at puberty does the hypo become more or less sensitive
less = higher levels of androgens and estrogens circulating before hypo stops it
what triggers puberty ?
-HPG is reawakened
-stimulated by increase Kissleptin
-
what influences kisleptin
increase in leptin and decrease in melatonin
before puberty pituitary acts on…
thyroid and adrenal gland ??
what is Arenal glands job
controls cortisol= adolescences more responsive to stress
more mental health in adolescences?
increase in vulnerability
Study: does puberty increase sensitivity to stresss?
social anxiety increases in adolescences (induce it with speech in childhood vs adolescences then monitored cortisol)
Study: does puberty increase sensitivity to stress?
social anxiety increases in adolescences (induce it with speech in childhood vs adolescences then monitored cortisol)
what was results of social anxiety study
increased cortisol in self reported puberty (even within the same person)
4 contextual influences that effect puberty
region of world, SES (nutrition, health care), ethnic group, historical era
T: first menstration
menarche
average age of menarche in can and us
12
at highest rate of change in puberty can grow same rate as toddler t or f
t
what does asynchrony of puberty growth mean
extremities first= look disproportionate
how does puberty effect body satisfaction
more dissatisfaction among girls = more body fat, for boys less concerned
what risk does the drive for muscularity survey find in adolescences boys
can contribute to muscle dysphoria
what factor influenced muscle dysphoria most (BMI, puberty dev, negative affect, esteem, body dis, media, teasing, sports
media, negative affect, power sports = not biology but perception and social influences
what does the BC adolescences health survey tell us
more adolescences are healthy than their perceived body image would suggest = girls think overweight, boys think underweight
having positive body image can be protective, how
-taking care of body= alc, —-cig, working out, dieting
increase in intuitive eating
risk of poor body image
preoccupation with self (self objectification and social comparison)
is there a relationship between age of onset of pub and rate of which it proceeds?
no a lot of variability in time and tempo
menarche earlier or later than earlier in malnourished countries
later (earlier for first world)
age of menarche earlier or later than in history
earlier
age of menarche earlier or later than in history, what is the term for this
earlier = secular trend
define puberty technical terms
changes that allow for reproduction
3 physical manifestations?
- primary sex changes
- secondary sex changes
- rapid growth
what primary sex changes occur
devel of gonads (sex glands)
what secondary sex changes occur
changes in genitals and breasts, hair ect.
primary and secondary sex changes are the result of changes in the …
endocrine system and CNS
new hormones are produced at puberty
f just levels change
what is the endocrine system
The system of the body that produces, circulates, and regulates hormones.
T: Highly specialized substances secreted by one or more endocrine glands
hormones
what are glands
Organs that stimulate particular parts of the body to respond in specific ways to particular hormones.
Organs that stimulate particular parts of the body to respond in specific ways to particular hormones.:T
glands
T: Specialized neurons that are activated by certain pubertal hormones.
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons
how does the endocrine system receive instruction
from the CNS= firing of GnRH neurons
what does set point mean in reference to hormones
A physiological level or setting (e.g., of a specific hormone) that the body attempts to maintain through a self-regulating system.
what is a feedback loop
A cycle through which two or more bodily functions respond to and regulate each other, such as that formed by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the gonads.
T: One of the chief glands responsible for regulating levels of hormones in the body.
pituitary
T: A part of the brain that controls the functioning of the pituitary gland.
hypothalamus
T: The glands that secrete sex hormones: in males, the testes; in females, the ovaries.
gonads
T: The male gonads.
testes
T: The female gonads.
ovaries
what are androgens
A class of sex hormones secreted by the gonads, found in both sexes, but in higher levels among males than females following puberty.
T: A class of sex hormones secreted by the gonads, found in both sexes, but in higher levels among females than males following puberty.
estrogens
what is involved in the HPG axis
hypothalamus, pituitary, gonads
The neurophysiological pathway that creates a feedback loop involving the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the gonads.
what is in change of maintaining set point
hypothalamus
how does hypothalamus usually act on pitu
usually inhibiting
what signals the onset of puberty
many genetic and enviro factors signal a change in set point
what is Adrenarche
The maturation of the adrenal glands that takes place during adolescence.
what do the adrenal glands produce and where are they located
above kidney
adrenaline and cortisol
The maturation of the adrenal glands that takes place during adolescence.
adrenarche
Just before puberty, the pituitary begins to secrete hormones that act on the …2 gland, as well as hormones that stimulate growth more generally
thyroid and on the adrenal
teens have first sexual attraction at onset of puberty
no before
why sex attraction before pub
adrenarche= signals beginning of sexual maturation to others with body odour as well
Changes at puberty in the brain system that regulates the adrenal gland are also important because this is the brain system that controls how we …
respond to stress= make us more responsive to it
is teen an inherently stressful time?
no just more vulnerable to experiencing it
what happens to HPG axis during pub
reawakened
what is genetic component to onset of pub
pub alarm that is inherented in our genes
what enviro signals tell the brain it is ready to childbearing
melatonin decrease and leptin increase trigger kisspepin
The onset of puberty is stimulated by an increase in a brain chemical called …
kisspeptin
A protein produced by the fat cells that may play a role in the onset of puberty through its impact on kisspeptin.:T
leptin
T: A hormone secreted by the brain that contributes to sleepiness and that triggers the onset of puberty through its impact on kisspeptin.
melatonin
exposed to more light = what for pub
earlier
obesity= what for pub
earlier
changes in behavior at puberty result from changes in hormones at that time
partially true. hormones affect the Brain from birth but may only start presenting self in adolescences = preexisting
how long is the human brain feminine for
until 8 weeks after conception, the brain is masculinizing from young age but don’t appear until later
does aggression result from puberty changes
result from prenatal hormones but don’t present until later not changes that occur during puberty= alarm clock goes off in adolescences with instruction
puberty causes the alarm clock behavioural expressions from preexisting hormones to occur
f Just because the alarm clock rings at the same time that puberty begins does not mean that puberty caused the alarm to go off.
the hormones that are triggered by pub cause what
body hair
emotional arousal
reward sensitiivty
changes during puberty are likely to be results of an interaction between prenatal and pubertal hormones
t
prenatal hormones organize behaviours so is puberty needed
yes might activate the patterns of behavioural expression to activate sex
how much growth in pub
10 in
does the brain change at pub?
in size and structure
how much of ones adult weight gained in adol
nearly half
what things work together to create the puberty growth spurt
growth hormones, thyroid hormones and androgens
T: The dramatic increase in height and weight that occurs during puberty.
adolescences growth spurt
what is peak heigh velocity
The point at which the adolescent is growing most rapidly.
The point at which the adolescent is growing most rapidly.
peak height velocity
T: The closing of the ends of the bones, which terminates growth after the adolescent growth spurt has been completed.
epiphysis
(a) Height (in centimeters) at different ages for the average male and female youngster. (b) Gain in height per year (in centimeters) for the average male and female youngster
which of these graphs would show the adolescences growth spurt
b
what period of development ae girls taller and why
pub happens approx 2 years earlier for girls, age 12 they beat boys then boys catch up at 14
what is the standard body growth order
extremities
arms, legs
shoulders, torso
does puberty influence athletic performance
yes accounts for half of the disparity
before pub what are fat and muscle sex differences
not much
after pub what happens to fat and muscle differences
more muscle gain for boys and more fat gain for females
how does pub influence eating disorders
= concerned with rapid weight gain
those unprepared and disliking pub greater risk
what girls are most likely to exp body dissatisfaction from pub
mature and dating early girls and talk about looks with friends, teased about weight or pressured to be thin
media or friends more influential in body dissatisfaction
friends but those friends consuming media expectations
ethnic differences in body dis?
conceptions of ideal changes bw groups= black girls less dieting
Black girls found that early maturers who were dating were more likely to be depressed than those who werent
f single early matures more likely to be depressed
what is the 7 sequential physical changes of pub
- growth of testes and sac
- growth of pubic hair
- body growth
- growth of penis
- changes in voice
- facial and underarm hair
- oil and sweat glands
what are sec sex char
The manifestations of sexual maturity at puberty, including the development of breasts, the growth of facial and body hair, and changes in the voice.
T: A widely used system that describes the five stages of pubertal development.
tanner stages
what are the 5 tanner stages of secondary sex devel in boys?
- no pubic hair
- some pubic hair, scrotum bigger
- spreading and coarser hair, length increase and more scrotum growth
- adult hair but smaller area. length and breadth increase
- distributed in inverted triangle, adult size and shape
6 physical changes in girls?
Growth of breasts Growth of pubic hair Body growth Menarche Underarm hair Oil- and sweat-producing glands
what are late developments
lower voice and hair
what does physical changes of puberty affect
self image, relationships with parents and mood (regardless of age)
when does first ejactulation occur in puberty cycle
a year after penis growth but influenced by culture around mastrabation
boys are fertile when they look like an adult
f sequence means fertile before physical maturation (opposite for girls)
for boys or girls is the sequence of secondary sex devel more predictable
boys
what is first in girls maturation
breast bud or pubic hair
does breast size predict maturation
no all breasts go through same changes
what pub changes in girls allow for reproduction
growth of uterus, vag, and other reproductive elements
when does female growth spurt occur in breast level cycle
mid way or early stages
where does first period happen in development cycle
late
does reproductive function occur upon first period
f several years after for regular ovulation
T: The time of first menstruation, one of the most important changes to occur among females during puberty.
menarche
timing varies but tempo is the same for puberty
f both vary variable
The onset of puberty can occur as early as age .. in girls and .. in boys, or as late as age … in girls and … in boys.
5, 6
13
how variant is the rate in girls
from 1.5 to 6 years (2-5 y in boys)
those who start pub early also end early
f no relationship between onset and rate
later or early matures taller?
late (early heavier)
Adult height and weight are far more strongly correlated with height and weight during childhood than with the timing of puberty
t
can the ethnic differences in maturation be tied to WEIGHT OR SES
no= more chemicals in enviro that stimulate
A specific region on chromosome.. has been identified as one of the markers for pubertal timing in both boys and girls
6
what are the limits of the genetic influence of pub
set limits but variance within that
2 most important enviro influences
nutrition and health = wellbeing
malnutrition does what to pub
occurs later (also with excessive exc)
how does family influence puberty timing for girls
Puberty occurs somewhat earlier among girls who grew up in father-absent families, in less cohesive or more conflict-ridden households, or with a stepfather or those sexually abused
what explains the female family influences
induce stress= hormone secretions
what protects against the impact of harsh parenting on pubertal timing
having a secure infant-mother attachment
living in proximity to one’s close biological relatives appears to slow the process of pubertal maturation, whereas exposure to unrelated members of the other sex may accelerate it.- why?
exposure to pheromones that stimulate maturation
T: A class of chemicals secreted by animals that stimulate certain behaviors in other members of the species.
PHEREMONES
The influence of the broader environment on the timing and tempo of puberty can be seen in more concrete terms by looking at two sets of findings: …
(1) comparisons of the average age of menarche across countries and (2) changes in the average age of menarche over time.
menarche signals the onset of pub
no
what explains age disparity between Canadian and african puberty inset
malnutritoin
what is the secular trend
The tendency, over the past two centuries, for individuals to be larger in stature and to reach puberty earlier, primarily because of improvements in health and nutrition.
2 reasons for the secular trend?
better nutrition and sanitization
puberty is happening earlier and finishing quicker than ever before
f earlier but taking longer
The average age of puberty among American adolescents has continued to decline- why
obesity, chemicals that mimic hormones and more artificial light
why is the early onset a concern
engage more in sensation seeking with puberty hormones without the developement of other brain areas that are involved in self control
brain systems that govern self regulation are related to pub
no the age of development of impulse control has not changed over the decades
the secular trend has been more dramatic among females than males
t
is there more symptoms of mental health in adolescences
no but vulnerable to
are adolescences really more moody?
yes more fluctuations in the day
is adolescences moodiness just due to hormones
early adolescences more hormone related but not very strong enviro as well= activities, problems with fam and peers
the amount of hormonal increase creates moodiness
f degree of fluctuation in context also (influenced by enviro)
adolescences beeper study (record mood and activity) results?
a lot of fluctuation very related to activity
youth vary between wider extremes= less predictable than adults
adolescences perception of if they are early or late is most related to what
more impacted by their feeling about puberty rather than where they really stand
behaviour is related to how physically mature teen is
f how old they feel
pros and cons of early maturation in Boys?
pros: popularity, esteem
cons: substance use, sex, problem behaviours, bullying (older peers) psychopathology
pros and cons of late maturation in Boys?
pros: curious, explorative, social initiative
cons: low pop
how do early maturing girls fare?
poorer outcomes
what does the maturational deviance hypothesis state?
explains why girls fare poor with early mat= stand out from their peers= poorer esteem= stress
developmental readiness hypothesis?
explains why girls fare poor with early mat= not ready to cope with challenges that occur with maturation (don’t have psychological resources to cope)
what cultural factors influence why girls fare poor with early mat
media places value on female thiness
pros and cons of early mat for girls
pros: popularity
cons: peer victimization (gossip) and difficulties, problem behaviours, psychopathology (eating disorders, social anxiety)
pros and cons of late mat for girls
pros: fewer psychological problems
cons: poor self esteem
pros and cons of late mat for girls
pros: fewer psychological problems (cognitive resources to deal with emotional stressors of maturation)
cons: poor self esteem
early maturing girls more likely to use tobacco
yes
what developmental theories seek to explain variable effects in pub timing
- maturational disparity
- biological
- selection/ context effects
what is the maturational disparity theory
update of development readiness hypothesis
new social roles and expectations of looking like adult = mismatch between physical, emotional and cog devel
what is the biological theory
rise in adrenal and gonadal hormones (not new but off time)may increase risk for psychological difficulties early fluctuations in mood but not the skills in emotional regulation
what is the selection/ context effects theory
amplification hypothesis= pub amplifies preexisting vulnerabilities and problems (e.g. for anx or dep)
what is the adolescences delayed phase preference
energized in evening and sleep later in morning = driven by pub
why delayed phase preference
melatonin is secreted later for those who have gone through pub (melatonin secretion pushed back later)
adolescences sleep impacted by enviro?
devices
how is adolescences sleep changing over time
declining over time
what is the risk of poor sleep
poorer self control, fatness, poor school performance, alc use, poor self control, internalizing problems
adolescences risk of obesity enviro?
less opportunity for exercise
T: minimal amount of energy used when resting
basal metabolism rate
what happens to basal metabolism rate
drops 15% so if not exercising will gain weight more
how much obesity in can adolescences
13% BMI too high
explanaitions for adolescences obesity
genetic and enviro (low activity), neurological (reward), diet
…. difficulties may contribute to physical health problems and self concepts
peer (dysregulated stress system= more health concerns)
chronic peer victimization=…
inability to cope= substances, high risk etc
physical activity … for adolescences
rises in early adolescences then declines after 13
why drop in physical activity
less interested in organized sports, increased in academic responsibility, biological (dopamine reward)
example of how does pub influence behaviour biologically
testosterone at puberty are directly linked to an increase in sex drive and sexual activity among adolescent boys (not same for girls pub)
there is little evidence that the hormonal changes of puberty contribute in a dramatic way to adolescent moodiness
t
how does pub effect behaviour
biolgically, self image (adult like), appearance= change others reactions
why pub create conflict with parents
desire for autonomy
Researchers have generally taken two approaches to studying the psychological and social consequences of puberty what are they
cross sectional and longitudinal
or compare psychological development of early and late matures
3 immediate impacts of pub
mood, rel with parents, and self image `
Although puberty can be a potential stressor with temporary adverse psychological consequences, this is true only when ….
it is coupled with other changes that necessitate adjustment (how they feel about appearance)
self esteem and image change in pub
yes but reasonably stable over time (more about mood which decreases with age)
Is there any scientific evidence that the hormonal changes of puberty cause adolescents to be moody or, for that matter, that these hormonal changes affect the adolescent’s psychological functioning or behavior at all?
hormones and mood connection not very strong
why is hormone relationship with mood strongest at puberty onset
IS BEING TURNED ON= fluctuation
how do pub hormones indirectly cause moodiness
pubertal hormones affect brain systems responsible for emotional arousal in ways that make adolescents more responsive to what is going on around them socially
rapid increases in many of the hormones associated with puberty—such as testosterone, estrogen, and various adrenal androgens—may be associated with increased irritability, impulsivity, aggression (in boys) and depression (in girls), especially when the increases take place very early in adolescence- what does this tell us
high stable levels that occur later in pub don’t cause same negative effects
hormones or stressful life events more predictive of depression
stress
adolescents’ moodiness results exclusively from the “storm and stress” of raging hormones
f not exclusively
what does the relationship with moodiness and activities tell us
not internal biology
when does the delayed phase pref start
early in adolescences
T: A pattern of sleep characterized by later sleep and wake times, which usually emerges during puberty.
delayed phase preferance
biological underpinnings of pub sleep changes
time of melatonin secretion changes = later with maturation (2 h later)= still voluntary to stay awake
after pub sleep cycle go back to normal?
reverse around age 20 but but still sleepy in the am compared to before pub
enviro influence on late sleep
gives reason to stay up
Because of …, adolescents get two fewer hours of sleep per night
early school start times
how does this lack of sleep in adolescences compare to past gens
more of a problem now
what problems does adolescences lack of sleep cause and why
dep, alc, drugs, cog impairment and delinquency
sleep increases self control
does catching up on sleep on weekends help
having markedly different bedtimes on weekends versus weekdays actually contributes to further sleep-related problems
is the distancing of pub universial
no not with ethnic minorities
how does school sports help adol
less dep and stress, better health and
why is adolescences sports decrease
they are awkward and uncoordinated and worries about social rejection
what is physical and health literacy and why should it be encouraged
move in a way that encourages balance, coordination etc will encourage participation
how much acitivty recommended daily in Canada
1 h of vigerious activity daily
…% of BC students meet physical recommendations
17
how can we support youth during this transition
developmental approach: acknowledge pre existing risks and use protective processes because of vulnerability = create opportunities for positive contexts
what are the barriers to healthy lifestyles
time, resources, geography, policies and programs for disadvantaged youth
how would evolution explain the parent adolescences conflicts of pub
ensures sex and autonomy
do early and late mat both experience family problems
yes
Pubertal maturation is associated with having platonic relationships with other-sex peers
f only romantic
how does pub effect peer
more likely to hang with people who are also physically matured
In general, most adolescents react … to the biological changes associated with puberty, especially those associated with the development of secondary sex characteristics.
positively
how does expectations influence menstral discomfort
more severe among women who expect menstruation to be uncomfortable, among girls whose mothers lead them to believe that menstruation will be unpleasant or uncomfortable, and in cultures that label menstruation as an important event
first ejaculation causes anxiety, embarrassment, or fear
f does not but better responses when prepared
adolescents’ behavior is related to how old they …, not simply to how physically mature
feel (how people respond to their physical state changes though)
for boys, which age at maturation is most likely to cause anxiety and dep
early (also loose temper more easily during pub)
for boys, which age at maturation is most likely to cause bullying
late but early boys more adversely affected by it
why early mat=m ore delinquency
treated like adult by parents and hang around older people
early and late maturers exhibit similar psychological profiles before adolescence
t but late matures score higher for curiosity bus develop coping skills
early mat girls adverse effects are caused by what
less about direct effects of hormones more about altered appearance (breast vs pubes= more dep)
why white girls early maturation= more adverse effects?
more consumed by thiness ideal
One recent study of both boys and girls found that the adverse consequences of early puberty were limited to adolescents who came from high-risk households what does this tell us
not inherently stressful but amplifies existing experience
how does early mat attention from boys influence mental health
more distress (problem the ways boys react to maturation not the maturation that is a problem)
what does the “maturational deviance” hypothesis state (explains Dif f and m effects from mat)
youngsters who stand far apart from their peers—in physical appearance, for instance—may experience more psychological distress than adolescents who blend in more easily (explains early mat girls and lat mat boys distress)
what does “developmental readiness.” state (explains Dif f and m effects from mat)
challenge that requires psychological adaptation by the adolescent, perhaps younger adolescents are less ready to cope with the challenge than older ones (for girls happens 2 y earlier explains their neg outcomes)
do the negative effects of pub persist for boys
no they fade
do the neg effects pf pub persist for girls
yes (goes against developmental readiness hypothesis)
3 explanations for m and f early mat Dif?
developmental readiness
context prototype
maturational deviance
does early mat delinquency occur across ethnic groups in the us
yes
Early-maturing girls in all-female schools are no more likely than late maturers to be involved in delinquent activities
t need the enviro to permit the behaviour `
why the impact of early maturation on problem behavior is relatively greater among minority adolescents
more likely to have enviro stressors living in poor communities
T: The minimal amount of energy used by the body during a resting state
basal metabolic rate
how do you find out if someone is obese
calculate BMI (weight over height) if at or above 95th percentile of people at same age and gender
when is someone overweight
85 percentile
is the obesity crisis getting worse
no getting better
T: A measure of an individual’s body fat, the ratio of weight to height; used to gauge overweight and obesity.
BMI
The increase in adolescent obesity has been especially dramatic among …
Black females
how are the brains of obese people different
more reward activiation, poor impulse control and heightened response to food images
does obesity led to dep
no dep leads to ob
do obese teens turn into obese adults
nearly 80% of obese adolescents will be obese adults
what are the enviro causes of obesity
increase availability of seditary behaviours, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, no exercise
stress exposure can undermine the subsequent development of self control how does this influence ob
neg life events early in childhood increase changes for ob
ob is less for kids who have good relationships with parents
t
weight loss meds or behavioural training for obesity in adolescents?
combo works best
how many adolescences satisfied with their body
1/4
Gender differences in concerns about weight emerge during adol
f long before that
do the problems that come with eating disorders result from the disorder
unsure which is chicken and egg
T Mild, moderate, or severe disturbance in eating habits and attitudes.
disordered eating
An eating disorder found chiefly among young women, characterized by dramatic and severe self-induced weight loss.
anorexia
T: An eating disorder found primarily among young women, characterized by a pattern of binge eating and extreme weight-loss measures, including self-induced vomiting.
bulemia
T: An eating disorder characterized by a pattern of binge eating that is not accompanied by drastic attempts to lose weight.
binge eating disorder
Nearly …% of anorexic teenagers inadvertently starve themselves to death.
20
About ..% of women will develop anorexia in their lifetime, about …% will develop bulimia, and about …% will develop binge eating disorder
1, 1.5, 3.5
eating disorders are especially common among affluent, suburban, White, and Asian American girls
f
how many girls at normal weight consider themselves overweight
1/3
how many girls and boys wish they were thinner
1/3 boys
70% girls
is weight loss efforts getting better
yes
how many girls engage in weight loss behaviour
more than 1/2
does being thin increase popularity in reality?
yes
why is body disatisfaction more complex with boys
being heavy is the main source of dissatisfaction among girls, being heavy or being thin are both sources of dissatisfaction among boys
are anorexia and bulimia found globally
bulimia just western
how does the revelance of bulimia and anorexia differ
anorexia steady increase over time bulimia big jump in 1970s and declines since 90s
what does the prep Dif between an and bulimia tell us
bul more culturally determined (an more inherented)
dep or eating disorder- what comes first
dep
how do psychologists today understand eating disorders
experts view eating disorders as part of a more general syndrome of psychological distress. manifestations of a more general underlying psychological problem—called “internalized distress”—that can be displayed in a variety of ways
main force in eating disorders
Given that anorexia and bulimia are far more common in females than males, broader social forces are probably a main factor in the development of these eating disorder
early mat more or less likely to get eating disorder
more
what individual characteristics contribute to eating disorders
proness to negative affect, (eating disorders are partly heritable), psychological traits (such as proneness to depression or low self-esteem), physical characteristics (such as early pubertal maturation), familial characteristics (such as strained relations with parents), or social concerns (such as a strong interest in dating) may be more likely to develop problems
